Cornyn, however, says the programs aren't Mattox's. He accused Mattox, a former attorney general who is again seeking the post, of flip-flopping on how he would handle the job of child support collections.

The candidates traded the verbal jabs Tuesday.

Mattox said child support ideas proposed by Cornyn last week include programs he implemented in the 1980s. They also include ideas, however, that Mattox called a disaster waiting to happen.

The disaster, Mattox said, would be to turn over the bulk of the job to county officials. Cornyn said Mattox at first agreed with the idea, but now opposes it.

"Child support enforcement suddenly becomes an issue in his campaign and he changes his tune, refuting his own words," Cornyn said.